“Friendships born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of competition. Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust.” This timeless quote by legendary American athlete Jesse Owens beautifully captures the essence of friendship in the field of competitive sports. And currently, the camaraderie we get to see between American tennis stars Frances Tiafoe and Coco Gauff stands as a befitting testament to Owens’ quote. Both ranked among the top 10 in the world at present, Tiafoe and Gauff are certainly 2 of the biggest names capable of taking American tennis to new heights in the upcoming years. Apart from their talent on the court, what also stands out is the close friendship they share with each other, which was again evident in Washington, D.C.

Their friendly banter was on full display after Coco Gauff’s impressive Citi Open triumph prompted a jesting congratulatory message from Frances Tiafoe.?

Coco Gauff takes part in hilarious repartee with Frances Tiafoe after Citi Open success

Currently placed at number 7 in the WTA rankings, teenage sensation Coco Gauff lifted the 4th and biggest title of her career at the Citi Open. After a disappointing 1st round defeat at Wimbledon, this was a much-needed confidence booster for Gauff, as she looks to build momentum ahead of the US Open.

The 19-year-old defeated Greek world number 9 Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3 in the Citi Open finals to clinch her first-ever WTA 500 title in Washington. Following Gauff’s memorable victory, close friend and ATP ace Frances Tiafoe was quick to congratulate her, albeit in a rather humorous way.

Gauff celebrated her victory over Sakkari by showing off her dancing skills on the tennis court. Frances Tiafoe shared a video of her celebration in his Instagram story, with the caption, “Congrats killa imma say the real Milly weak tho ??? jk.. congrats on #4 ?? @cocogauff”, as he attempted to pull Gauff’s leg in a friendly way.

Coco Gauff continued the fun banter as she re-shared Tiafoe’s post in her own Instagram story with the caption “sorry I didn’t have that big foe energy ??”, alluding to Tiafoe’s lively and energetic celebrations on the court.

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It is indeed heartwarming to see the unique bond between these 2 superstars of American tennis. Unsurprisingly, this isn’t the first time that Tiafoe and Gauff engaged in such playful banter with each other on social media.

Gauff’s fun Instagram interaction with Tiafoe after the French Open practice session

Before the start of the French Open this year, the duo trained with each other at the iconic Roland Garros in Paris. Their rigorous practice session involved a lot of intensity, hard work, and focus. Frances Tiafoe shared a highlight reel of the demanding training session on his Instagram account.

However, Gauff didn’t miss the opportunity to tease her friend and practice partner as she indulged in a playful banter via her Instagram story. ?Honored to have a small role in @bigfoe1998 highlight reel?, she wrote, expressing a jesting take on the matter.

The two compatriots have shown time and again that their easygoing camaraderie and special bond go way beyond just the realms of tennis. Add their fun-loving and humorous nature into the mix, and we get a deep and unique friendship that isn’t much seen in the tennis circuit today!?

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